Michigan Supreme Court Denies Jill Stein Recount Appeal

Michigan Supreme Court Denies Jill Stein Recount Appeal

Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein arrives for a news conference outside Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York City on Dec. 5, 2016.Brendan McDermid / Reuters

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The Michigan Supreme Court has turned down an appeal by Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein to restart a vote recount in the state.

The state high court denied the appeal Friday by a vote of 3-2. Earlier, two judges who made Republican President-elect Donald Trump's list of possible U.S. Supreme Court nominees had removed themselves form the case.

The denial comes two days after a federal judge ended the recount, which began Monday. The judge tied his decision to a state court ruling that found Stein had no legal standing to request the recount.

Stein's recount case had only a remote chance to succeed before Michigan's high court: Three of the five justices were nominated by Republicans.

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The Michigan Secretary of State said Friday that because the recount was halted before it was finished, the results certified on Nov. 28 stand. Trump beat Clinton in the state by 10,704 votes according to the official results, the secretary of state's office said.

Stein in a statement Friday acknowledged the appeal had little chance.

"Although we are deeply disappointed in today’s decision by the Michigan Supreme Court not to hear our appeal that would have allowed Michigan’s recount to finish, we are not surprised given the political motives of the majority," she said in a statement.

Stein said "in Michigan, political cronyism, bureaucratic obstruction, and legal maneuvering have run roughshod over the democratic process," and added that she would "continue to fight for the hard-fought, hard-won civil voting rights of all Americans."

Stein also sought recounts in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. A judge in Pennsylvania said he'll rule Monday on the bid for a recount there.

Wisconsin's recount, which started last week, has increased Trump's margin of victory over Clinton thus far.

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